Allan’s World Music

Why I Won’t Like MGMT
28 February 2008, Allan @ 1:40 am

I was introduced to MGMT by a label PR manager e-mailing about MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular, promoting their performance as well as bribe to post about them and offer giveaways such as vinyl, cds and concert tickets when they came to Toronto with Yeasayer. Generally you don’t see too many music giveaways unless it’s a major label promoting a band as indie bands have to go through the word of mouth way (long live music blogs!).

One caution with music blogging is not to be influenced by the free cds, and the other perks we get doing something everyone genuinely likes to do which is to discuss music. I am kind of rolling my eyes in this case as to why a MGMT has become so popular of late. When I first received the e-mail about the contest opportunities they had 300K myspace hits and now they have a million.

The first thing promoted by the label was their sub-par/average performance on Letterman’s late show. Like what makes this performance stand out that it become a “hot video” on El.bows. It’s just a normal performance by a band that seemed relatively unknown to me.

The funny thing is I was talking to a friend about the worst bands she’s seen live and guess which band she mentioned, MGMT! Hah, unknown to her though was that MGMT was getting some considerable hype which seemed rather questionable to her.

I rejected the offer to hold a contest on my blog regarding MGMT, I cited that “Time To Pretend” seems like their only good song and the other tracks were not good enough to be promoted by me and I would rather promote smaller (indie and non-major) and more deserving bands.

After watching a few videos of MGMT and their music video for Time To Pretend, I have become increasingly annoyed by their popularity. Mainly because this seems like another average or “meh” band that due to the structure of the music industry (major vs indie) is having success when I don’t think it’s all that deserving. (They aren’t that special, they are basically a pop band without any complexity).

They have received some hype from Rolling Stone and Spin, but does that count in my world where indie has an equal footing with mainstream rock? Getting a review from Pitchfork is not bad but who cares about a 6.8 out of 10? and PrefixMag doesn’t count (it’s a blog calling itself a magazine, why I don’t I just start one up?).

Their style also annoys the crap out of me. It comes off as fake, and overdone. MGMT is nothing special but it feels like their acting like their such “hipsters” it disgusts me. Here’s a hint to you musicians who actually want to be cool, make good music! They apparently perform pagan festivals in their free time (sure sure) and dress like fools while giving off the pro-drugs vibe with their “psychedelic” video. One rule of thumb for me is music comes before style or you’re just some loser wannabe.

If you watch the video for Time To Pretend, it’s a fucking joke (Click here). If you fall for this shit and come as off as saying MGMT is so hip and cool, you’re more gullible then a dog. I guess there’s more meaning to “Time To Pretend” :P.

Time To Pretend by MGMT

Flame away!

19 Comments for “Why I Won’t Like MGMT”

1. c s — February 28, 2008 @ 3:11 am
   

   Time to Pretend

   Pun intended?

2. Anonymous — February 28, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
   

   they’ll be around longer than your ill-fated music journalism career

3. Allan — February 28, 2008 @ 4:51 pm
   

   LOL sucks for everyone else then. Y’all know you like me :P.

4. Rob — February 28, 2008 @ 10:43 pm
   

   I certainly respect your scruples. Interestingly enough, B(oot)log from Kinston recently had a MGMT contest … which I won, hooray? I really liked ‘Kids’ - I think its a pretty catchy track, but on the whole I’m not exactly sure how I feel about the album.

   That said, I think the trend you’re talking about - the overhyped blogger bands can be the most aggravating - the one the bothers me the most: Vampire Weekend.

   Just came across your blog - via Wolves, Hawks, Kites… will plan on coming back.

5. Allan — February 29, 2008 @ 12:27 am
   

   Lol well there’s nothing wrong with winning a contest. Nothing wrong with getting something for free. I was challenging the notion of whether or not MGMT would even be considered such a hot topic without the push of a major label.

   I thought more of the blogosphere which why I personally disagree on Vampire Weekend. I am actually a big fan. I think what takes the cake was their Blue CD-R demo which was amazing. I definitely understand the hatred as their “style” is played over substance a bit but they’re talented and nice guys as well (I got on their guest list so I owe them). I think Vampire Weekend’s preppy style is kind of annoying but it’s not way over the top like MGMT.

   P.S. Kids is a decent track but nothing special for me.

6. Rob — February 29, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
   

   I will say that I loved VW’s session at La Blogotheque (but they make everyone look good).

   I guess everyone has their own taste, not everyone is going to like everything, but I think you’re right in pointing out that you can create a lot of buzz just by having a label push their stuff at all kinds of blogs. I find, when I’m sifting through new bands, often it takes me seeing the name a few times before I’ll give it a chance…

   I’ll say again though… loved that you took the time to call them on their attempted bribery.

7. Allan — March 1, 2008 @ 12:54 pm
   

   Vampire Weekend is also great live but if you don’t like them I doubt you’ll care lol.

   A lot of our content is created through e-mails and promos. If I get an e-mail I know at least 50 other bloggers got the same e-mail. I’m trying not to be too influenced by e-mails but we do get some great e-mails.

8. ack — March 1, 2008 @ 9:17 pm
   

   I actually cant be bothered with either band, but was interested in one thing you said.

   “I definitely understand the hatred as their “style” is played over substance a bit but they’re talented and nice guys as well (I got on their guest list so I owe them).”

   If you don’t want to be “bribed” by PR people or shill for the machine, noting that you owe them because they are nice guys and hooked you up might not be the thing to write

9. Kevin — March 2, 2008 @ 7:28 am
   

   Allan (on Kevin’s login):
   Well it was the actual band I contacted since I was desperate. It had nothing to do with PR people. I don’t mind being bribed but the way I was bribed definitely annoyed me with MGMT.

   I was bribed before being shown anything musically as if it didn’t matter if I liked them or not.

10. ack — March 2, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
    

    haha.. oh i know. it’s really hard to want to care about checking out a band when you have 6 - “hey man.. check these guys out.. they are sick!” emails in your inbox and they are on every other blog.

    but on a happier note, you should totally check out the HILOTRONS new record. Great Canadian pop.

11. Anonymous — March 2, 2008 @ 1:07 pm
    

    MGMT may be a ‘meh’ band as you say but I wouldn’t necessarily call them ’successful’ as a result of their major-label push. It’s really only flash-in-the-pan exposure. We’ll see what the future brings them. They’re fortunate to be the benefactors of major-label promotion but a lot of bands/artists, bad and good, have gone through the same experience and have gone nowhere in the long run. If you’re a good band like Nada Surf, Spoon, etc… you continue to put out records even after your major label drops you because being on a major is not the be all and end all(and continuing with the Nada Surf and Spoon examples you could go on to more substantial ’success’.)

12. mike — March 2, 2008 @ 1:08 pm
    

    Oops, that last comment was from me.

13. Allan — March 2, 2008 @ 9:22 pm
    

    Thanks for the recommendation Ack. Always nice to see an author of a blog I enjoy.

    Mike, you make an excellent point that there’s really no refuting your argument. Good bands endure but I am still bothered by MGMT. They shouldn’t be in the same argument as Vampire Weekend as VW is awesome live.

    All I’ve been hearing is how bad MGMT is bad live:
    Exclaim! Review of Yeasayer and MGMT

14. Becky C — March 3, 2008 @ 12:33 am
    

    yep! I recently wrote about their very disappointing performance in Philly. I enjoy their recordings, but just can’t dig them as a band.

    http://naclaq.blogspot.com/2008/02/yeasayer-mgmt-fang-island-do-jbs-and.html

15. Allan — March 3, 2008 @ 1:45 am
    

    Ouch, more information about their live performances will hurt. I can’t condone liking bands for having good recordings but poor live performance. It’s like saying it’s okay to listen to Britney Spears who has a lot of production work on her album and it’s really my only argument to boycotting her music.

16. Bob — March 28, 2008 @ 7:06 pm
    

    Allan, I’ve gotta say that I love this post. As you read on my blog, I actually like MGMT, and I’m looking forward to seeing how their live show holds up next month. I’ve heard bad things and I’ve heard great things about them, both opinions from sources I respect. But I have never been swayed by popular opinion nor by modern day payola and although I disagree on your thoughts concerning MGMT (sorta, there’s actually some things that I agree on too) I certainly have similar views concerning other bands that bloggers seem to love. (Voxtrot, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Tokyo Police Club, etc, etc, etc..) So stay true to yourself dude, and people that don’t respect your opinions are mental. Even when they’re wrong. Jokes.

17. Allan — March 28, 2008 @ 11:04 pm
    

    I appreciate the articulate response. I think I came off kind of bad when commenting on your post and in no way did I mean it as a attack. A lot of people do agree that the album in itself is good and I’m looking forward to seeing what you think with their sold out show.

    As for the track “Kids”, I was never really given a chance to listen to it now that I come to think of it. I was provided with minimal materials before being offered a chance to say “hey here’s a band I like and I’m also giving free stuff by them”.

18. Anonymous — April 21, 2008 @ 7:44 am
    

    You Minger

19. Allan — April 21, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
    

    Minger? That’s a new one.

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